Injury Prevention

Injury- What is Injury

Injury is a hidden epidemic in Trinidad and Tobago it is related to many deaths, disabilities, financial burden on families and financial burden on hospitals and care facilities (NWRHA HPRP 2019).

  1. Injury is a major global health concern, accounting for 10% of the global burden of disease
  2. Over 90% of injury-related deaths occur in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs)
  3. Because it disproportionately affects young, otherwise healthy adults who are often the primary income earners for their families, injury tends to have significant financial and social impacts on the communities of the injured.

INJURY PREVENTION – A CULTURE SHIFT

Injury prevention programmes should be at the front burner of all healthcare planning and intervention strategies and must take into account that there needs to be a shift in the culture of Trinidad and Tobago when it comes to our daily activities at home, work and recreation.

The following can be practiced to ensure prevention of injuries (CDC 2019):

  1. Wear the proper helmet for your activity (Recreational/Work)
  2. Wear a life jacket
  3. Have your eyes checked
  4. Remove tripping hazards around your home
  5. Learn to swim
  6. Store medicine out of the reach of children
  7. Take medication only as directed
  8. Place children in the appropriate booster or car seat
  9. Wear your seatbelt
  10. Observe the speed limit

Reference:

  1.  The burden of injury in low-income and middle-income countries: knowing what we know, recognizing what we don’t know
  2. Pattern and Trend of Injuries among Trauma Unit Attendants in Upper Egypt
    Dalia G. Mahran, Osama Farouk, Mohammad H. Qayed, and Amal Berraud
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2019, 10 Ways to reduce injury